Funding Fair Play Bid : Chalk Mine Remediation Work & Loss of Council Tax Income

A delegation from Welwyn Hatfield Council met the Minister for Local Government, Phil Woolas, on Tuesday 14 March to seek help in two funding areas.

Councillor Richard Smith, Executive Member for Resources, was accompanied by Bob Jewell, the council’s Chief Resources Officer. The meeting was arranged by Grant Shapps, MP.

The group discussed two issues. First was the issue of the high costs of the repair work that will be necessary following the results of the chalk mines investigation around the Briars Lane area, Hatfield. The cost for this remediation work is estimated at £4.1m.

Following the meeting, Cllr Smith said: “We are very hopeful that English Partnerships and the Treasury will meet all or very nearly all of the costs of remediation – any shortfall would otherwise fall equally on the District and County Councils.”

The second issue discussed concerns loss of council tax income in districts that contain large numbers of full time students who are exempt from the charge. Hertfordshire council tax payers are missing out on over £900,000 a year in government grants that should compensate for these exemptions. This is because the notification date of 10 October for exempt dwellings (mainly those occupied by full-time students) is far too early.

Cllr Smith commented, “The council tax/government grant problem affects Welwyn Hatfield very severely. There are 1,370 exempt student dwellings notified at 16 March entitling the Hertfordshire authorities to some £1.5m of compensation whereas we were only able to report 540 dwellings by the October deadline bringing in £600,000.”
 
Click here for the full story.